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Heisman watch 2018: 10 dark horse Heisman Trophy candidates

By Brad Berreman

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 01: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass in the first half against the Auburn Tigers during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: David Stacy- Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: David Stacy- Getty Images /

3. Rodney Anderson, RB, Oklahoma

The Sooners are going from 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield to Kyler Murray at quarterback this year, and with that downgrade in experience should come with some tweaks offensively.

Anderson was tied for 57th in FBS with 188 carries last year, and just 12 carries over his first four games, but he took them for 1,161 yards (6.2 yards per carry) and 13 touchdowns. With the mobile and athletic Murray under center, Lincoln Riley’s offense stands to morph into a more run-based, read-option approach than Mayfield operated in. That should naturally yield more work for Anderson, and backup Trey Sermon (744 yards and five touchdowns last year). In Anderson’s case as the lead back, there seems to be some untapped potential as a pass catcher (17 receptions for 281 yards and five touchdowns in 2017).

As long as Murray’s threat as a runner is cultivated and present since he will carry some durability concerns as a smaller quarterback, Anderson stands to benefit from defenders being a beat slow when the MLB draft pick demands attention on option plays. Improvement on last year’s 6.2 yards per carry is possible, if not likely, against the bad defenses in the Big 12.

After Mayfield’s win last year, Heisman voters may hesitate to go back to the Oklahoma well so quickly this year. Anderson is in line for a big junior season though, after announcing himself on the national stage against Georgia in a playoff semifinal loss (26 carries for 201 yards and two touchdowns). If the Sooners can get through with one or zero losses this year, Anderson’s Heisman resume will be bolstered even further.